Contoured Class Divider for Aircraft Seat Pitch and Crash Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft cabin designs face challenges in optimizing space utilization and passenger safety during emergency landings, particularly due to the need for minimum spacing between cabin components to meet Head Injury Criteria (HIC) and load sharing requirements, which limits seat pitch and legroom.
Innovation Solution
A contoured class divider that nests into the volume behind the seat back, allows for increased seat pitch by positioning seats closer together, and includes a locking mechanism and energy-absorbing zones to enhance safety during rapid decelerations, with features like energy-absorbing materials and articulating joints to move forward during emergencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a hard divider is provided between rows of seats to separate cabin classes, then cabin separation is achieved, but space utilization is reduced and seat pitch is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The divider is designed as a movable partition that can shift position between forward and aft locations. During normal flight, the divider is positioned aft to maximize legroom and usable space. During emergency landing, it can be moved forward to provide necessary clearance and protection, thus adapting to different operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The divider structure nests into the space behind the seat back, utilizing the volume that would otherwise be unused. The contoured shape allows the divider to fit within the recessed area created by the seatback, thereby not reducing the effective legroom space while still providing cabin separation.
2Reliability
If minimum spacing of one inch is maintained between bulkheads and seating systems to meet load sharing requirements, then structural safety is ensured, but seat pitch and legroom are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The movable divider allows the aircraft to operate with reduced spacing between the divider and seating systems during normal conditions, maximizing seat pitch. During emergency landing, the divider moves to a position that provides the necessary clearance to meet load sharing requirements, thus maintaining safety without permanently reducing seat pitch.
Solution Approach 2:
The divider is positioned in advance during normal flight to optimize passenger comfort and space utilization. The locking mechanism is designed to automatically engage or disengage based on operational conditions, preparing the divider in the appropriate position before emergency situations arise.
3Volume of moving object
If the divider is positioned close to the seat back to maximize space utilization, then legroom is increased, but passenger safety during rapid deceleration is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The divider is designed to dynamically adjust its position based on operational conditions. During normal flight, it is positioned close to the seat back to maximize space. During emergency landing or rapid deceleration, it automatically moves forward to create clearance between the passenger head and the divider, eliminating the head impact risk while maintaining space utilization during normal operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism is designed to release in advance under the threshold forces of emergency deceleration, allowing the divider to move to a safe position before actual impact can occur. This preliminary action ensures passenger safety while maintaining optimal space utilization during normal conditions.
4Reliability
If a locking mechanism is added to allow the divider to move during emergencies, then passenger safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed to automatically respond to operational conditions without requiring external control systems or complex actuation. The shear pin or threshold latch engages or disengages based on the forces applied during normal versus emergency conditions, providing self-regulating functionality that minimizes complexity while ensuring safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism utilizes simple, reliable components such as shear pins or threshold latches that can be easily manufactured and replaced if needed. These simple mechanical elements provide the necessary safety function without requiring complex electronic or hydraulic systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The contoured class divider increases seat pitch and legroom while ensuring passenger safety by absorbing energy and providing additional clearance during emergencies, thus optimizing space utilization and meeting regulatory safety standards.
Implementation Method 1
a contoured class divider according to this application includes at least one energy absorbing zone to absorb the energy of a head impact in the event of an emergency situation. In one example, an energy absorbing zone includes one or more structurally weakened portions designed to deform or break as a result of a threshold dynamic load.
Implementation Method 2
the energy absorbing zone includes one or more portions embedded with energy absorbing material. The energy absorbing material may be foam.
Implementation Method 3
The locking mechanism, in one example, may include a shear pin which remains in its locked position until it is subjected to longitudinal acceleration associated with an emergency landing. Under those conditions the deceleration force experienced by the divider is sufficient to overcome the pin static shear force and the divider moves forwardly.
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a contoured class divider for dividing an aircraft cabin arrangement between at least one forward passenger seat and at least one aft passenger seat, includes a panel positioned adjacent to and rearwardly of the at least one forward seat. The panel has a contoured shape for receiving the back of the forward passenger seat in at least one of a reclined position and an upright position. The panel extends substantially from an underside of an overhead bin to a cabin floor. In embodiments, at least a portion of the panel is configured to deform or break during a crash event due to one or more of a head impact by a passenger in the aft passenger seat with the panel and/or inertial forces of the crash event acting on the panel.